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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · bulb · hide · bat · stem · nail · mate · bore

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bore — to drill
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. bat — in an idiom
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bulb — for light
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. stem — to come from
  19. bat — the animal
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. mate — to breed
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bat — for baseball
  24. mate — a friend

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com